Ignition adapter for internal-combustion engines



Get. 19 192 c. H.v SHEASLEY ET AL IGNITION ADAPTEK'FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 24, 192

INVENTORS CHARLES H. 3HEA5LEY .lossP a. scoTT ATTORNEY Patented Get. l9, 192 5...

l ttlt tidii OF FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA, AS- F FRANKLIN, PENNSYL- IGNITION ADAIETER FOR INTERNAL-CGIEBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed May 24,

At the present time spark plug ignition is more largely employed in certain types of internal combustion engines that could more advantageously employ hot-tube ignition. This is particularly true in certain classes or fields of service which are remote from repair supplies and experienced repair service. A demand exists for internal com bustion engines employed in these fields of service which shall be quickly adapted to interchangeably employ either electric or hot-tube ignition with equal facility and elliciency. Such demand exists particularly in connection with internal combustion engines used in the oil field service. In many divisions of this service, hot-tube ignition has always been the preferred type because of its simplicity and economy, since in many cases the oil wells that are being operated furnish an abundance of gas for heating the tube, thus reducing the cost of ignition service to the mere cost of tubes and occasional replacement of the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide an internal combustion engine which shall meet this demand. lVith this object in View, the invention, generally stated. consists in an internal combustion engine whose combustion chamber is provided with a passage extending through the wall thereof and so constructed at its outer end that either a hot-tube ignition device or an electrical ignition device may be mounted thereon at will, and further providing a second passage through the wall of the combustion chamber extending in a direction so that the two passages shall cross or intersect each other, and mounting, preferably by scrcw-thread connection, a rod or pin (hereinafter called an adapter pin) in the second passage, to the end that the same may be manually adj'usted'across the path of the passage containing the ignition device to any extent desired. With an electrical ignition device, the adapter pin is preferably adjusted so as to offer little or no obstruction to the passage of gases between the combustion chamber and the passage containr ing the ignition device. When, however,

the hot tube ignition is to be employed, said adapter pin is manually adjusted across the passage containing the ignition device so as to adjust the extent of the open- 1923. Serial No. 6421,02'9.

ing between said passage and thecombustion chamber. By this simple means the operator is enabled to ettectively time the explosions, since the adapter pin intersects or chokes to a variable degree the passage of the fuel gases from the combustion chamher to the ignition device and regulates the rate oi? flame propagation from said device to the combustion chamber.

One form which the inventive idea may assume is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. 1 is a radial section through the combustioi'i wall of an internal'combustion engine showing the improved ignition adapter embodied therein, the ignition device illusconsistin of a spark plug.

l1 2 is a section through the wall of the comlmstion chamber of an internal COlllibustion engine showing our improved ignition adapter in cooperation with an iguit 1 device consisting of a hot tube. I

lug. 3 is the same radial section shown in the two previous figures with the ignition device and adapter pin omitted for the purpose o't more clearly illustrating the arrangement and relation of the ignition passasre and the adapter pin socket.

The construction illustrated in said drawings is substantially as follows:

Through any suitable portion of the endosing wall 1 of the combustion chamber 5 of an internal combustion engine is formed an ignition passage 2 which is preferably a drilled hole. The outer end of said passage is adapted for the reception and attachment of a spark-plu 3, as in Fig. 1, or for a het-tube as in Fig. 2.

The thickness of said wall 1 is such that when a spark-plug is secured in its service position in the outer end otsaid passage 2, the terminals or SPHJflI-POlll'tS of the plug are spaced at a considerable distance from the inner, combustion chamber port of said passage.

0 'd thickness is partially due to the inoi the water-jacket 1' which between the inner and outer walls of said chamber.

Said passage 2 is intersected by another passage, or i l-hole 6 oil? larger diameter than said passage 2 for the reception of an adapter pin 7, which is adapted to be manually actuated longitudinally within said passage 6 through the medium of the cooperating screw-threads 8 and 8 upon the periphery of a portion of said pin 7 and in the wall of said passage 6 respectively,

which passage is preferably termed the adapter-pin socket. The periphery of the inner end of said pin is smooth, and fits the corresponding portion of said socket (S a what is mechanically termed a pust tit, which indicates that its diameter is approx imately two thousandths of an inch smaller than the diameter of said socket.

The inner end of said adapter-pin 7 is adapted, through its longitudinal movement 2, if desired, but there is seldom any neces sity for placing said pin in such an extreme inward position, and Fig. 2 of the drawings indicates the innermost position to which said pin is adjusted in practical service: it also indicates approximately the smallest area of the port 27 that is required in the adaptation of an engirne tor the employment of any of the various types of ignition devices.

As previously stated, a spark plug 3 is shown in Fig. 1 as the ignition device employed. the best results the passage 2 may be opened to nearly its full area. 7

The incidental advantage attained, as well as one of the objects of our invention, is the protection of the spark-plug from. the in tense heat that develops directly within the combustion chamber 5 of the engine. ll' ith the spark-plug positioned relative to the combustion chamber as indicated, the degree of protection thereto is such that the length of life and service of a spark-plug is, upon the average, live times as long as that of a spark-plug mounted in accordance with the usual practice, that is, with its terminals positioned within the combustion chamber of the engine.

i In Fig. 2, as previously stated, a hot-tube 4 is shown as the ignition device employed. In this case, said adapter-pin 7 is adjusted inwardly so that the area of the ignition port 2 is only a small fraction of the total area of the passage 2. Relative to the exact area of said port 2 which is nocessary to adapt an engine to operate with equal eiii-- ciency and to effect ignition with the time precision equal to that attained with a spark plug, we have discovered that nearly every engine requires an individual adjustment.

In this case, for the attainment of Said adjustment may, however, be readily made by anyone skilled in the art oi operating internal combustion engines. l n some cases it has been found that the slight looseness o'isaid pin 7, that is, the two thouattained, back lire is caused to cease and a mechanical eiiiciency of the motor attained which is the equal of that attained with spark-plug ignition. in some motors it will be found that this same procedure will materially increase the efiiciency where 'a spark-plug is employed an ignition device: In all cases the life of the spark-plug will be materially prolonged when used in connection with. our ignition adapter.

A lock-nut 9 may be en'iployed to secure said pin 7 in its adjusted position, and a gasket 10 may be supplied to prevent leak-- age of gases around said pin.

From the drawings and the Iioregoing description it will be readily noted that our improved ignition adapter includes a portion of and is mainly embodied in, and farriec within the water-cooled walls of the combustion chamber of the motor, and it will also be understood by those sliilled in the art to which this invention relates, that said walls may be air cool d contormably with common practice, it being essential, however that some provision for cooling said waiis be supplied, in order that our ignition adapter may be wholly accurate, eilicient and reliable in its operation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that we have provided an ignition adapter of extreme simplicity, both in construction and operation, and of such rugged construction that the same will last during the lift time of the engine and at the same time provides etlicicnt means for timing the explosions with great accuracy and with the simplest possible manipulation.

hat is claimed is 2 1. In an internal combustion engine, tie combination of a combustion chamber hav ing two intersecting passages in its walls each in open communication with the interior of said chamber, an ignition device at the exterior end of one passage, and manually adjustable means in the other passage operable to partially close communication LOO between the first passage and said chamber, whereby the engine is adapted to interchangeably employ different forms of ignition devices.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a combustion chamber having a passage through its wall, an ignition device connected to said passage exterior to said chamber, a second passage in the wall of said chamber transverse to said first passage, and manually operable means in said second passage operable to control said first passage, whereby the extent of opening of the said first passage may be varied at will to suit the ignition device employed.

3. In an internal combustion engine. the combination of a combustion chamber having two passages through its walls which passages meet at their interior ends, an ignition device at the exterior end of one passage, and a threaded pin in the other passage manually operable to project its interior end across the ignition passage.

l. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a combustion chamber having two passages leading from its exterior and in open communication with the interior thereof, an ignition device at the exterior end of one passage, and manually adjustable means in the other passage operable to partially close communication between the first passage and said chamber.

5. Apparatus for timing internal combustion engines comprising, in combination with a combustion chamber having two openings through the wall thereof, ignition means secured in one of said openings, and means in the other opening manually operable to partially close said first-named opening.

6. Apparatus for timing internal combustion engines comprising, in combination with a combustion chamber having two openings through the walls thereof, ignition means mounted in one of said openings,

and manually operable, axially adjustable means in the other opening to control the passage of gases through said first opening.

7 Means for timing the ignition of internal combustion engines comprising, in combination with a combustion chamber, a passage leading into said chamber, ignition means in said passage, a second passage leading into said chamber, and means axially adjustable in said second passage to vary the extent of opening of said first passage into said chamber.

8. In an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber having a passage through the wall thereof. an ignition device mounted in the outer end of said passage, and a longitudinally adjustable adapter pin having one end positioned in said passage, whereby said pin intercepts in a variable degree the passage of fuel gases from the combustion chamber to the ignition device and regulates the rate of flame propagation from said device to the combustion chamher.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber having two intersecting passages formed through its walls, an ignition device mounted in the outer end of one of said passages, and a longitudinally adjustable adapter pin located in the other passage and having its inner end adjustable in the passage containing the ignition devlce.

10. In an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber having two passages formed in the wall thereof and intersecting each other within said wall, an ignition device mounted in the outer end of one of said passages, and an adjustable adapter pin having its inner end adjustable in both of said passages.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

JOSEPH J. SCOTT. CHARLES H. SHEASLEY. 

